Gaman. This is a Japanese word to describe the concept of enduring pain. In Japan, it is considered a certain strength to be able to withstand uncomfortable situations.
I stand in a 30-person deep line (down from 50) awaiting my fate regarding a flight out to Detroit. People standing in this line together with me are, to understate, not happy. We were told to call the airlines help line as otherwise we will wait forever (people are being processed at a rate of 10-minutes per passenger -- I am not getting any younger standing here).
I call the airline help line. They appear to be saturated and a friendly voice tells me that they care about my call, and hope to satisfy my needs on a future call. Then the computer on the other end hangs up. I repeat this drill six or so times in the manner of a person trying to win tickets to a concert on a radio station. No luck. No tickets to the big concert for me.
I munch on my dinner for this evening. I thank the Keebler elves for inventing portable crackers and cheese. I remind myself to introduce the elves to the folks in Japan that make Calorie Mate. Calorie Mate is a kind of wunderfood that is an entire meal's nutrients packed into a blocky, shortbread cookie-like format. Looks something like the food of the future. No frills or flavor. Just the facts. Gaman.
To be virtuous is considered noble. To not complain is the key to surviving modern life. If instead things were to work flawlessly, if you were able to flow unimpeded, if everything worked synergistically without failure, there would be no need for gaman. Imagine that -- the eradication of a word from our daily vocabulary. Quite a simplification. If it is to happen someday. Oh, it's my turn now.
Posted by maeda at June 6, 2005 06:03 PM